How do you express yourself? Is it in a calm and considered way or do you react quickly and impulsively? Are you aware of the power of your expression and the reactions from other people? Self-expression appropriately follows on from self-perception in the EQ-i 2.0 model. This area focuses on the outward expression of one’s internal perception. The three sub-scales are:​

Emotional expression – ability to express feelings in a verbal and non-verbal manner

Assertiveness – ability to communicate clearly whilst being sensitive to others and non-offensive

Independence – ability to be self-directed and not emotionally dependent on others

​Firstly it is important to be able to recognise your own feelings and be aware of your self-perception, before then expressing them in an appropriate way, ensuring that your thinking is autonomous and you stand up for what you believe in.​Assertiveness is not to be confused with aggression. On the scale of passive to aggressive, assertiveness sits somewhere in between the two extremes. People expressing both passive and aggressive behaviours can develop their assertiveness skills through coaching and training, but it is important to understand how you express yourself. By being aware of the impact on themselves and others, assertive people understand how to express themselves verbally and use appropriate body language, clearly expressing their independent thoughts. In a workplace assertiveness is a highly desirable skill and there are significant benefits to all of constructive and socially acceptable self-expression.​To find out more about the elements making up the emotional intelligence EQ-i 2.0 model, check out the previous blogs in this series. Alternatively if you would like to find out more about the fascinating subject of emotional intelligence, then it is worth considering the EQ-i 2.0 emotional intelligence certification . You will examine each scale and sub-scale in depth and will be able to interpret the reports and coach individuals to help them create personal development plans.